A bevy of emotions today. It has been a long two weeks of symptoms that have made all of us weary. Tatum has had sleepless nights of coughing, runny nose, and crankiness. Me? I’m not sleeping as I lay awake hearing her cough away and I worry as to what to do. The list of “do’s” are all checked off.

Then, she coughs in the morning and my mom worries of getting sick. And it came to pass that now my mom is sick.

Last night, I had a feeling. I knew there was something more since she had had a low fever a few days ago and still was asymptomatic. Plus, she’s just not herself! I had gone out with Doug after she went to sleep, and when I returned home, I found the sweet Coti watching over her as she lay on the floor!!?

There he is! What in the world of waldo is she doing on the floor? Coti I guess wants to read all the books she went through. So I gently put her into bed, and guess who plopped up next to her?

I think Coti knew something was wrong too.

This morning, she was still off and just wanted to lay on Coti’s place covered in mom’s jacket.

I had the darndest time getting into the Dr, but I kept calling and finally a cancellation at 11:45 am. We headed over and I just prayed for an answer.

BINGO….It was strep.

She sleeps right now, and has been for an hour. I am too wound up to sleep! The prayers have been answered, and all we need is to protect mama from getting any worse now! (and me too)

The bevy of emotion has exhausted me, but I know this too shall pass and we’ll be back to our vivacious selves. I love you sweet girl.

Tatum definitely has me as her mommy. Yesterday, she had an idea.
“Mommy, I want to have oatmeal today and cereal tomorrow, then oatmeal again and cereal the next. It’s a pattern, mommy.” OK, huh!? She is now telling me her little structured way of having breakfast! Then she added she would like to have a yellow flower one day and a pink the next. Another pattern. (I bring a flower in every morning when I take doggie for a walk.)

Speaking of our little Coti, last night we had fireworks next door, and they were both scared. So I let her stay up with Coti. They comforted each other on the chair.

Then today, he wanted to return the favor and comfort her since she was sick with the flu today. He hopped up on her bed, and she decided he needed to be comforted so she read him the devotion.

I think we will try to keep this pattern going. She comforts him, he comforts her; she comforts him…etc.

Little did you know that a small circle could have so much value. Not just any circle. A valve. This cylindrical device regulates the air and has a particular function which must be intact. If any leakage occurs, it is defunct and cannot perform its duties.

This particular valve has been redesigned to not allow for any leak to permit and therefore be stable for the space station. This redesign took over 11 months to complete, but the work involved was worth the perfected device.

This valve also has had a great analogy for our year. How?

1. The valve is a complete circle.Circles are associated with wholeness, unity, and the closest thing to perfection. It is a place of safety to be inside and surrounded by a border of love. Maynard James Keenan wrote, “A circle is the reflection of eternity. It has no beginning and it has no end .” Circles have no sharp edges revealing comfort and gentleness.With the people in my life, I see this as incredibly symbolic. Especially with Doug. We’ve been through so much in two years, and the pointy moments become smoothed out with much prayer and communication. We’ve remained INSIDE the circle knowing that the surrounding space is God’s loving arms. This concept transcends to my daughter as well. There is no beginning or end to my love for both of them BECAUSE I have learned from Jesus what love really is. This leads to the next valve teaching.2. Valves can leak.The reason this valve came down from space was due to an infinitesimal leak, undetectable to the human eye.It can happen slowly and under the radar. A negative thought gets nurtured in our mind and festers which can lead to an unkind word spoken; a misunderstanding can inhibit communication and cause one to shut down; an expectation is not met leading to a hurt feeling. And on and on it can go. A small pinhole is poked into the circle and a breath of air compromises the fidelity of the valve. These leaks happen without being aware. Therefore, just as with the testing method for the space station for the valve to be 100% foolproof, we must continue to pray and communicate plugging these small pinholes before they become a gaping abyss.Why do we go to all of this work? It seems like so much effort to keep the valve intact. So much effort to keep the circle of a relationship leak-proof. Well, because….3. Valves are valuable.This circular valve which was up in the space station for years had a primary function, although extremely small. The small leak it produced led to the breakdown of the whole device!!!The same holds true for our circle. We edify. We honor. We trust. We honor. We respect. We honor.Without the circle, what is life worth? Things? Stuff? Busyness?Remember, the sixth day, and the final day of creation, God created man and woman to be in relationship with each other and Him. It was His greatest masterpiece. We owe it to God to be in harmony because that was His intention. Plus, it makes Him smile.This newly redesigned valve is back in space because it went through a hard year of reconfigurations and testing. It’s ready to perform its duties. Is it perfect? By no means, but its ready to take on the harsh conditions of space. Built inside the valve is a device to keep it clean and leak-proof. Just as with our circle. We will continue to refine, refresh and reconfigure throughout our life as we attempt to make us leakproof.This tiny circle teaches me so much about my past year and what I want to take into 2017 with my guy and my family. This valuable valve.